Some of the NFL’s biggest home-field advantages have nothing to do with the fan base or the number of people that can be crammed into one stadium. Instead, the teams with the biggest home-field advantage usually have some geographical edges.
For example, the altitude in Denver tends to help the Broncos earlier in the season as teams are conditioned to that level yet. Another is in Green Bay during the winter as many squads are accustomed to playing in that frigid environment.
The Raiders could have a similar advantage this season as they will be playing eight games in Las Vegas. During months like August and September, the average temperature is in the upper 90s and can exceed 100 on any given day.
In a recent piece by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, star tight end Darren Waller spoke about the possible advantage as the team is having unofficial workouts in Las Vegas right now. Here is Waller talking about the heat in the team’s new city:
“We can deal with extreme temperatures, we go right at it and we work, no excuses. I feel like that can pay dividends for us in the season, knowing that we can go into any kind of environment, hot or cold, and do our thing.”
Given how few teams are going to be accustomed to that level of heat, don’t be surprised if the Raiders do have the upper hand in conditioning early in the season. And if the Raiders fully commit to a run game to wear down defenses, the heat could play a big factor in their success this season.
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